DC Werewolves in the Bronze Age (not 3300 to 1200 BC but 1970 to 1986) reached a new pinnacle of style and thrills. Werewolves at DC date back all the way to 1936 when Dr. Occult spent several issues of More Fun Comics battling one of these fiends. The first issue of The House of Mystery had “Wanda Was a Werewolf” but as the Silver Age progressed the lycanthropes were replaced by aliens. It was only after 1970 when DC revitalized their Horror line that good old fashioned skin-changers returned. Here are three dozen of tales of DC Werewolves in the Bronze Age (over 3 posts)…
“Kiss of Death” (The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #3, January-February 1972) was written by Jack Oleck. This long Gothic romance with a vampire has only one werewolf scene. Like “Dracula’s Guest” by Bram Stoker, the werewolf is the vampire. DC experimented with monster romance in the style of Dark Shadows on TV (1966-1971). The experiment only lasted four issues.
“A Beast Stalks the Badlands” (World’s Finest #214, October-November 1972) was written by Steve Skeates and Denny O’Neil. This was our first superhero tale of the 1970s. Superman does a Werewolf Western! But on a film set. Skeates is cancelling the Lone Ranger and his silver bullets. Perfect for a werewolf story. Werewolf Westerns were a thing back in the Weird Tales days when Manly Banister wrote such tales. The DC Horror comics will use them occasionally.
“Maniacs” (The House of Mystery #209, December 1972) was written by Steve Skeates. A man cursed with lycanthropy finds a cure in a magic mirror but still gets shot. Skeates again. He will write a good number of werewolf tales.
“The Young Man Who Cried…Werewolf…Once Too Often” (Secrets of Sinister House #8, December 1972) was written by Sheldon Mayer. A girl is attacked by a werewolf or was she? Only a strange professor can explain how a perfectly normal woman can defeat a werewolf.
“Deliver Us From Evil” (The House of Mystery #211, February 1973) was written by Jack Oleck. Young Count Yanos is a terrible were-monster. But those who defeat him with a silver bullet may just be something worse. That last transition shot by Nestor Redondo would inspire a similar frame a year later, creating one of the best moments in DC Horror comic history.
“Castle Curse” (Secret of Sinister House #10, March 1973) was written by Steve Skeates. (Yup, him again.) A man inherits a Baronial title and home. He also gets the family curse, werewolfism. His wife shoots him then her self once she realizes what she has done.
“Monster on the Moors” (Swamp Thing #4, April-May 1973) was written by Len Wein. When a plane crashes on the moors, it is up to Swampie to save them from the monster that lurks in the old mansion. This a perfect Horror comic match-up all in the wonderfully creepy art of Berni Wrightson. But it isn’t that moment I was speaking of. That is later…
“Curse of the Werewolf” (The House of Mystery #214 , June 1973) was written by Jack Oleck. Paul’s got the perfect plan, to use an old family legend and get the insurance money for his sister Karla’s death. There is only one small problem… the werewolfy kind.
“What Evil Taunts This House?” (The Witching Hour #32, July 1973) was written by George Kashdan. Uriah Sorge has a life insurance policy written with double indemnity if death occurs by supernatural clause. Tompkins thinks it is a harmless bit of silliness but it proves so much more…
“Hound You to Your Grave” (Secrets of Sinister House #16, January-February 1974) was written by George Kashdan. Werewolves are threatening a town so the villagers get their dogs and hunt. Pleasants waits for the dogs to come for him…
“Moon of the Wolf” (Batman #255, March-April 1974) was written by Len Wein. Art by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano Batman faces off against Anthony Lupus for the first time. (Ten years later he would again.) Lupus is a man cursed, not evil but unable to control the beast within. He dies (not!) in a fight with Batman when struck by lightning. Neal Adams is amazing as always.
“The Dead Man’s Lucky Scarf” (The House of Mystery #224, April-May 1974) was written by David Izzo and Michael Flesicher. This Weird Western has a man kill for money then try to hide the crime with a wolf pelt. The country was full of immigrants in those days…some from Transylvania. Alfred Alcala does a great job of the werewolf attack. he will repeat this image in future comics.
“Claws of Death” (The House of Mystery #224, April-May 1974) was written by George Kashdan. This military drama revolves around a man with werewolf blood. The Alex Nino art is awesome as usual. Alex will do a few of these too.
“The Perfect Mate” (The House of Mystery #226, August 1974) was written by Robert Kanigher and Michael Pellowski. At last! The moment has arrived. In my opinion, the best werewolf story DC ever did. A vampire woman is having a hard time finding a husband. (She keeps eating her suitors.) She finally locates a good one. Too bad he’s a werewolf. Jess Jodloman’s art in this piece is some of his best. And that transition scene (both vampire and werewolf), done in the Nestor Redondo fashion, is great.
